Tying mechanism for balers



April 17, 1956 H. E. ALTGELT TYING MECHANISM FOR BALERS 8 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed June 19, 1944 NVENTOR. Hermnf.'

ANN

l BWP AprilI 17, 1956 H. E. ALTGELT 2,742,062

TYING MECHANISM FOR BALERS Original Filed June 19, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TUR.

Herman/@ April 17, 195e H. E. AUGE-LT 2,742,062

TYING MECHANISM FOR BALERS Original lFiled June 19, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INI/EN TOR.

german/5w Q, 8% @dus Qi?? April 17, 1956 H. E. ALTGELT 2,742,062

TYING MECHANISM FOR BALERS Original Filed June 19, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Herman E 8&5, BY 6@ [N VEN TOR.

April 17, 1956 H. E. ALTGELT TYING MECHANISM F' OR BALERS 8 SheeiS-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 19, 1944 Hermam April 17, 1956 H. E. ALTGELT TYING MECHANISM FOR BALERS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed June 19, 1944 NNN NNN N.

(Vlfl INVENTOR. Herman E. e,

April 17, 1956 H. E. ALTGELT TYING MECHANISM FOR BALERS 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Original Filed June 19, 1944 INVENTOR. Herman E Byu f April 17, 1956 H. E. ALTGELT 2,742,062

TYING MECHANISM FOR BALERS Original `Filed June 19, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 2,742,062 l. y TYING MECHANISM FoRjnALEns United Stat@ .Patfif Herman E. Altgelt, South Bend; Indiya'ssignor-to The Oliver Corporation, a corporation of'Delaware original application June 19, 1944, SgaiNo'. 540,918.

` Divided and this application April 26,.I 9x51, Serial' No.

3 Claims. (Cl. 14o- 93) The present invention relatesgenerallyto hay balers ofthe stationary, portableor pick-up type,xbut more particularly to a novel and improved construction for automatically tying a knotor `twisting the ends' of two wires together which will postively insure the' ends of the wires against being pulled apart luiider tension.`

Attempts have heretofore been made to make or 'coni struct an automatic wire tying `or twisting mechanism by twisting the ends of wires together, lbut these attempts have been failures due to the fact thatexpansion of the compressed baleplaces undue tension onthe' wire bands and the twisted ends of such'wiresunder -the expansion of the bale causes the twisted ends `tofbecome untwisted and separated. t t 1 t t It is, therefore, one vof-ffthe` lprimaryobjects of vthe present invention to not only overcome these dii'culties, but to also provide a novel and improved methodof'securing the ends of wires togetheras'wellasV an` improved construction of an automatic wire baling mechanism in which laps'lfrom two reels of wire on the opposite side of the baler are brought together,4 subsequently twisted into two twisted portions, then ysevcredlbetween the two twisted portions, followed by `kinking or bending of the twisted portions so that lwheh" tension is placed on the bands in the process of forming thebale, the kinks orfcrank-like formationin'the' twisted portions of the wire forms in effecta 'crank and `under tension of the expanding bale7 will partiallvr'ev'olve in cranklike fashion so as to lo'ckitselffagainstjone lof the straight portions of the wire tov prevent further unwinding.l

A further object of theinvention isftf provide anovel and improved method as well as a'cons'truction ofan automatically actuated wire tying or twisting'inechanism which twists two strands or wire at their intermediate portions into two twisted sections, thensevers thetwisted sections of wires apart and subsequently bendsor kinks 2,742,062 Patented Apr. 17, 1956 Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is afragrnentary top plan view of the compression chamber and plunger construction of a conventional hay baler of the stationary or pick-up type of baler, showing my improved automatic knotting or twisting mechanism embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view shown in Fig. 1;

` Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary Vcross sectional view itaken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. v4 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the metering wheel turned sutciently by charges of hay moved through the compression chamber to trip the shuttle mechanism in operation;` g y Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan View showing the of the construction relative position of certain of the operating parts when `the shuttle is actuated across thebaling chamber in the operation of tying the bale; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the tripping mechanism for the clutch showing the clutch tripped for starting the wire twisting pinions into operation; u Fig. 7 is a detailed side elevational view showing the plate members which support the wire twister pinions and the wire severing and bending members;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line `8 8 in Fig. 7; Y

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the manner in which the pawl tripping lever is disengaged from the clutch tripping yfinger by a roller on one of the gears;` A Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the relative position i' rof the operating partsV of the knotting mechanism as these parts approach the conclusion of one cycle of' operation; p

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detailed View fshowing the first step in the method and also operation in which one of the shuttle members and one of thev wire twisting pinions reaches approximately the conclusion of the twist,-V

ing operation of the two strands of wire; p

Fig. 12is a similarfview in the next step of severing the twisted wire sections at the conclusion ofthe twisting operation;

Fig. 13 is a similar view showing the next successive step `in the operation of bending or kinking the twisted severed sections of the wire; p

.Fig 14 shows themanner in which the ends of the wire are twisted together and kinked or bent into the each of the resulting twisted ends into hooks rcranks, l

after which the cranks revolve `to become locked upon the straight portions of the wire when the bands surrounding the bale are placed under tension by` the expanding bale, to thereby prevent the ends ofthe wires :from lbeing mechanism and therebypermits the shuttle toremain in Contact momentarily` with the knotting'mechanism before it is returnedto its Enormal inoperative position outside the hay compression chamber.

These and other objectsare accomplished by providing an improved method andl constructiomthearranger ment of the Vvarious partsof which arehereinafter de` scribed and particularly claims.

,pointed out in the n'appended form of a crank at the conclusion of the twisting, severing and kinking operation; t

Fig. -15 is a similar view showing the manner in which the cranked or kinked portion of the twisted wire locks itself` against the straight strand of the wire when the wire is placed under tension; i Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of the knotter casing showing relative position of all the operative parts in their inoperative positions;

Fig. 17 is an end elevational View of the construction shown in Fig. 16; Fig. 17A is an end elevational view of the casing for the wire tying mechanism; p Fig. 18 is a top plan View of a bale of hay showing the manner in which my improved knotting or wire twisting mechanism secures and binds two wire bands about the bale of hay;

Fig. .19 is and Fig. 20 isa top plan view of the same. p In order to illustrate the method and construction of carrying out my improved invention of an automatic wire twisting or knotting mechanism for a baling press of the stationary or pick-up type, I have shown the same in cona detailed side elevational View of the shuttle;

" vnectionwith a fragmentary portion of the baling chamber,

together with its associated Structure. Only such parts that arecommon or essential to thestationary and `pick-.up baler and cooperate with my invention are shown in the drawings. Other parts, such as the reciprocating feeder which is synchronized with the plunger and alternately feed the hay downwardly into the. baling chamber on the return movement of the plunger, have been eliminated from the present drawings for the purpose of clearness.

.In illustrating one form of my invention, l have shown the same in connection with the more or less conventional form of haybaler generally indicated by the reference character 25 and comprises horizontally spaced top main .frame members or angles 26 and 27 which extend longitudinally throughout the baling chamber and extension thereof. Spaced vertically below each of theangleA members 26 and 27 are longitudinally extending lower main frame members or angles 29. Extending throughout the compression chamber and the extension thereof and secured to the opposite angle members Y29 is a sheet metal bottom 30. Reinforcing the lower angle members 29 are supplemental main frame or angle members 32. Located between the upper and lower angle members and secured to the inner sides thereof are sheet metal side walls; 33 and 34 forming in effect the compression chamber. Reciprocally mounted in the compression chamber is a plunger, generally indicated by the reference character 35. The plunger head of the plunger 35 has three vertically spaced i horizontal slots 3 34 and 35 for permitting the shuttle to move transversely on the withdrawal of the plunger from the compression chamber in the manner hereinafter described. Pivotally connected as shown at 36 to the plunger l35 is a pitman bar 37. The pitman bar is connected to the usual crank operated transmission mechanism which in turn may be operatively driven from the power take-olf of the tractor or by the usual separate engine or motor power mounted on and carried by the stationary or pick-up type of hay baler in the manner well understood in the art.

The construction thus far described are the parts that are common to the conventional type of hay baling press of either the stationary, portable or pick-up type. Reinforcing and bracing the main frame members are opposite vertical angle braces 38. Reinforcing and bracing the top angle members 26 and 27 and extending from the vertical braces 38 are supplemental angle main frame members 39 and40.

The mechanism which automatically controls and actuates" the shuttle of my improved wire tying or twisting mechanism will next be described.

T his' mechanism includes a transversely and intermittently reciprocable shuttle, generally indicated by the reference character 41. and shown in detail in Figs. 19 and 20 of the drawings. This shuttle 41 consists of, in effect, two vertically spaced apart and horizontally positioncd shuttle members 42. Each of thc two shuttle members convey a wire across the baling chamber and is operable with the separate knotting or twisting mechanisms for tying or twisting the two separate spaced apart bands about the bale on each occasion that the shuttle is actuated across the baling chamber as shown in Fig. 18 of the drawings. In this connection it will be noted that each wire band about the bale has two knots or twisted portions. This is necessitated by the fact that at the conclusion of binding the wire band around one bale, the wires from the reels on the opposite sides of the baler must be secured together for the next succeeding bale. These two shuttle members 42 are rigidly held together by a longitudinally extending vertical plate as shown at as well'as vertically spaced projecting points as shown at 46.y The opposite .edges of Veach of` these shuttle members 42 are provided with longitudinally extending wire grooves 47 which extend to the inner end of the shuttle members and terminates in enlarged and relatively decp transverse recesses or grooves between the vertically spaced pointed portions 46 of the shuttle members 42 for holding, guiding and forcing the baling wire into the slots of the wire twister pinions vhereinafter described. The shuttle member 41 is provided with a clutch trip linger 48 which is welded to oneside ofthe plate 43 and extends parallel to each of the shuttle members 42. The inner end of the linger 4S projects to a point substantially in line with the inner ends or points 46 of each of the shuttle members 42. in order to retain the wirein one of the longitudinal grooves 47 of each of the shuttle members 42 vertical wire retainer guides or bridges 41 and 42' are provided. The retainer guide 41 is located adjacent the forward end of each ofthe shuttle members and the wire retainers 42 are spacedy apart yand located `adjacent the outer end of each of the shuttle members.

The outer end oflthe. shuttle 41 is pivotally connected 'to substantially parallel .link members generally indicated by thereference-characters 49 and 50. The link 5t) is in thel form of two vertically spaced apart triangular bell-cranks whichare rigidly held together in spaced relation withrespectto each other by vertically extending members 51 and 51. rPhe member 51 is in the form of a spacer tube and is secured in position through the medium of a ,bolt;52,` The spacer member 51 is in the form of a post having its opposite ends threaded for the reception of nuts 52. One of the outer and free ends of ythebell-crank member 50 is pivotally connected by means of a vertically extending bolt 53 and spacer tube 54 to thez outer ends of the spaced apart mem-bers 42 ofthe lshuttle member 41. The other free end of Vthe upper triangular bell-crank member 58 is provided with two rollers,plower roller 55 and upper roller 56 journaled on a common pin or shoulder bolt 57, for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The other parallel link 49 consists ,of two llat bars 58` and held in rigid spaced relation .with respect to each other by vertical bars 59 having their opposite ends welded to the respective bars. The outer free ends of the bars 58 forming the link 49 are pivotally connected, by means of a vertically extending bolt 60, to eachl of the shuttle members 42 of the shuttle 41. The upper and lower triangularly shaped bellcrank members 50 are pivotally connected as shown at 61 to upper `and lower spaced apart plates or brackets 62. These vertically spaced and horizontally positioned plates62are welded to a vertical plate 63 which in turn is rigidly secured to the upper and lower main frame angle members- `40and 29 respectively of. the haler frame. Weldedrto the underside and adjacent the rear edge of the upper plate 62 is a roller 'bracket 64 on the rear end of which is journaled a roller 65 for the purpose hereinafter set forth. Journaled on the top surface of the upper plate 62 adjacent the main angle frame member A40 is `a second roller 66 for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The forward ends of the bars 58 forming one of thewparallel links; 49.are pivotally connected as shown at 67 between andl to the spaced apart plates 62. From the above description it will be obvious that the parallel link arrangement ofthe links 49 and Sti move the shuttle 43. The plate 43 secures the intermediate portions of the member 42 together and terminates some distance short of both ends of the shuttle members 42. The outer ends of the shuttle members are further reinforced by a connecting brace 44. The inner end of the shuttle members are provided with recesses or cut out portions as shown at v4S so as to vprovide oppositelypand forwardly member 41 substantially in a horizontal and rectilinear direction across the balingchamber when the same is actuated to carry or convey the wires thercacross in the manner hereinafter described.

The mechanism which automatically trips and actuatcs the "shuttle to tie' the bale when a sutiicient amount of hay is compressed Within the baling chamber will next be described. `-.The shuttle 41 is actuated across the balingchaniber'after a predtermined amount of hay has been compressed' innthefbaling cham-ber, by the rearward movement of the plunger 35 and through the medium reciprocatory movement of the shuttle actuating bar 68 is guided by the respective rollers 65 and 66. An intermediate portion of the actuating bar 68 is provided Ywith an inclined and laterally projecting portion as shown at 71. Positioned rearwardly of the lateral projection 71 is a recessor slot 72 which, when the shuttle mechanism is tripped, is adapted to receive the roller 55 for actuating the bell crank 50 and the shuttle 41, in the manner hereinafter described. Rearwardly of the sl-ot 72 in the actuating bar 68 is a straight raised portion, as shown at 73, which terminates in a shoulder 74. The shoulder 74 of the actuating bar 68 moves in the path of and is adapted to engage the rol-ler 55 of the bell-crank 50 of the next compression movement of the plunger following the actuation of the shuttle member 41,`to return the shuttle to its outer or inoperative position or the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will be Obvious that the shuttle actuating bar 68 moves to and fro with the actuation of the plunger, but that the shuttle must be only actuated when a suicient amount of hay has been com-pressed to form a bale. T-he roller 55, therefore, is held out of the recess 72 of the actuating bar 68 by a tiltable bar or post 75 which is pivoted to a pin 76 carried by an angle bracket 77, which in turn, is secured to the plate 34 of the compression chamber. Journaled on this pin 76 below the tiltable post 75 is a roller 78 which engages and guides the inner edge of the actuating bar 68 in its movement. (See Fig. 3 of the drawings) The til'table post 75 is provided on its inner foremost end with the leg or foot 79 which limits or sto-ps the forward pivotal movement of the post 75 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 76 as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The outer or free end of the post 75 is located in vertical alignment with the recess 72 of the actuating bar 68 when that bar occupies a position, with the plunger in its rearrnost position or the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings. The post lies in the path of and is adapted to engage the upper roller 56 and therefore holds the roller 55 out of engagement with the recess 72 of the actuating bar eX- cept on such occasions as when the tilting post 75 is tripped or actuated out of position in the manner hereinafter described. Pivota'lly mounted on the outer or free end of the tiltable post 75 as shown at 80 is a tripper arc S1. The tripper arc '81 is substantially in the form of a semicircular disc and is provided with a cordlike cut out portion as shown at 82 which moves in the path of and is adapted to engage the upwardly and vertically projecting pin 83 secured to the'laterally projecting portion 71 of the actuating bar 68 in the `manner hereinafter described. Journa-led on a pin 84 secured to the tripper arc 81 is a roller 85 which lies in the path of and is adapted to engage the metering wheel bar, generally indicated by the reference character 86. The pin 84 has an enlarged overhanging head 87 for the purpose of guiding and maintaining the bar86 in position contacting the roller 85. The forward end of the bar 86 is reduced in width forming a shoulder, as shown at 88, which is adapted to engage the roller 85 on 4the tripper arc 81 in the manner hereinafter described. The rear end of the tripper bar is pivoitally attached as shown at 89 to a metering wheel 90, which in turn, is adjustably and rotatably connected by means of a bolt 91 to a bracket 92 secured to thel main frame angle me1n'ber`27. The metering Awheel 90 has its periphery provided with a plurality of pointed teeth so that Ia portion thereof projects into the bale extension for engagement with the bale in measuring the same to intermittently trip the shuttle mechanism to actuate the same for tying the'bale in the manner hereinafter described. The metering 'bar 86 has Tits forward end normally engaging or rather pressed into engagement with the roller by an ex-` tension spring 93 whichhas one end thereof connected to the bar 86 and the other end thereof connected as shown at 94 to a bracket 95 projecting laterally from and secured to the angle member 40. Secured to they top surface of the Itripping arc 81 is an upwardly extending pin 96 which is adapted -to .move into the path of and engage the edge of the metering bar 86 to disengage the notch 88 of the bar from the roller 85 of t-he tripping arc when the same has been moved suiciently forward. The tripping arm 81 and post 75 are normally actuated about their respective pivots 80 and 76 by a spring 97 which has one end connected to the main trarne angle 40 and the other end connected to the tripping arc 81 as shown at 98. This spring97` actuates the tripping arc in a clockwise direction as viewed from Fig. 1 of the drawings and its movement is limited in this direction by a downwardly projecting lugor pin 99 which engages the forward edge of the post 75. The

bell-crank 50 and its associated roller 56 is held springV pressed against the post 7'5 by a rod 100 which has its rear end pivotally connected, as shown at 101, to the upper triangular bell-crank and the other end thereof extending through an aperture 102 located in the outer end of a transverse bar 103 secured to the opposite angle yframe member 39 and 40. Embracing the rod 100 forwardly of the bar 103 is a compression spring 104, the tension of which may be adjusted by a nut 105 mounted in threaded engagement at the forward end of the rod 100. The rod 100 is provided adjacent its forward end with a' shoulder or flange 106 which is adapted to engage one end of a spring 107 surrounding an intermediate portion of the rod. The other end of the spring107 is adapted to engage the transverse bar 103 to place the bell-crank under tension when the operative parts are in the position'shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings to assist in returning the shuttle member 41 to its normal or outermost position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

From the above description it will be seen that when the operating parts are in the position shown in Figs. land 2 of the drawings, on each reciprocation of the plunger 35 the actuating bar 68 will be similarly reciprocated, but the bar `68 will be ineffective to actuate the shuttle 41 by reason of the fact that the tiltable member 75 engages the upper roller 56 of the bell-crank 50 to hold the lower roller 55 out of engagement with the recess 72 in actuating bar 68. However, when suicient h-ay has been compressed in the compression chamber and extension thereof, so as to actuate the metering wheel from the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings to `the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the shuttle then will be actuated by reason of the tripping mechanism and associated parts in the manner as follows: When the metering wheel 90 is revolved by reason of a suicient amount of compressed hayengaging the same, it will actuate the bar 86 forwardly so that the notch 88 thereof engages the roller S5 in the tripping `arc 81, causing the tripping arc to rotate abou-t its axis :S0-on the post 75 in a counter-'clockwise direction. As the tripping arc 81 is revolved, the cord-like portion 82 thereof, engages the pin 83 of the actuating bar 68 so that a further movement of the arc under `these circumstances tilts the post 75 rearwardly about its pivot 76, removing the end of the post from the path of the roller 56 on the bell-crank 50 and permitting the roller 55 to be seated in the recess 72 of the actuating bar 68. In this connection it will be noted that the spring 104 is under tension, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, and therefore actuates the roller 55 and bell-crank 50 into operative engagement with the actuating bar 68. In Fig. 4` of the drawings, the tiltable post 75 and tripping arc 81 are shown actuated ato the position preparatory to permitting this engagement of the roller.55 kof thel bell-crank 50 to engage theV recess 72'in the actuating ba'r 68'to actuate the shuttle transversely'of the `bal ing'chamber, simultaneously with the return or forward movement of the plunger 35. As `the metering bar 86 is moved or advanced further forwardly by the engagement ofthe metering wheel with the moving bale, the pin 96' on the tripping arc 81 engages the edge of the bar 86 at a point adjacent the notch 88 therein to disengage the notch Sd from the roller 85 so as to permit thel tripping arc to return to its normal position with respect to the post 7S or the position in which the pin 99 engages the forward edge of the post 75. As this occurs the spring 97 not only normally returns the tripping are 81 to its normaler stopping position but also returns the post 75 to its normal or forward position in which the leg or foot 79 of the post 75 engages the bracket to resume its normal position, or the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings preparatory to holding the roller 55 of the bell-crank 50 out of engagement with the notch 72 of the actuating bar 68. It will be observed by examining Fig. of the drawings that when the shuttle 41 is actuated across the baling chamber by the return movement of the plunger 35, the roller y55 of the bell-crank 5t) will become disengaged from the slot or recess 72 in the actuating member 68 as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings and when the roller becomes thus disengaged it will ride along the straight edge 73 of the actuating bar 6d to momentarily hold the shuttle member 41' in position to support and hold the wires in the knotter housing during the wire twisting, wire severing and wire bending operations in the manner hereinafter described.

It will also `be noted that when the bell-crank 50 is actuated to the position lshown in Fig. 5, it compresses the spring 107 on the rod 160 so that when the roller 55 of the bell-crank 5t? reaches thc rear end of the straight portion 73 the spring will actuate the bell-crank 50 about its pivot 61 so as to place the roller 55 of the bell-crank 5d in position to engage the shoulder 74 of the actuating bar ed to return the bell-crank 5t) and shuttle 41 from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings preparatory to again actuating the shuttle mechanism when the next bale is to be tied. The mechanism for supporting, feeding and controlling the wires for binding or baling the bales of hay from four reelsof wire will next be described. The invention in the present instance provides for the tying or twisting of two spaced apart bands on each bale by two identical knotting or twisting mechanisms which operate simultaneously in cooperation with the two shuttle members ft2 of the shuttle 41 so as to place two spaced apart bands on cach bale of hay in the manner shown in Fig. '18 of the drawings. ln this connection it will be noted that cach ot` the bands are provided with two twists or knots on one side of thc bale at points adjacent the opposite ends. This is necessitated by the fact that the wire supplied froni each of the reels on one side of the baling chamber must be bound to the wire from each of the reels on the other side of the baling chamber at the conclusion of the binding of one bale and the beginning of the next succeeding bale. To accomplish this on each actuation of the shuttle across the baling chamber a double twist of the wires forming the upper and lower bands are secured and subsequently cut in sections, one ot' which forms the final knot in the boundv bale, the other ol' which forms the knot for connecting the opposite wires together preparatory to receiving and supporting the first charge of hay for the next succeeding bale. The manner in which this is accomplished will hereinafter be more fully described.

Supported on one side of the baling frame adjacent the shuttie mechanism are two horizontally spaced apart reels of wire generally indicated by the reference character 108, the upper one of which carries wire for aportion of the upper band and the lower of which carries a wire, for a portion of the lower band on the bale. These reels are in vertical axial alignment and are journaled on pins 199 carried by brackets 110 which in turn, are secured or welded to a bar 111 secured to the main frame members 40 and 32. The wires from each of these reels 108 are designated by the reference character, 112. These wires extend from their respective reels through eyelet brackets 113 secured to plates 62, from where they are trained around grooved pulleys 114 journaled on brackets (not shown) secured to the side Wall 34 of the compression chamber. The wires 112 extend from each of these pulleys 114 to grooved pulleys 115 journaled on the opposite shouldered ends of the spacer post 51 between and carried by the bell-crank members 50. The

wires from these latter pulleys are threaded into the forward grooves 47 or" each of the shuttle members 42 and inside the wire guides ory bridges 41 and 42' of the shuttle members. From this point each of the wires extend into and across the forward grooves between the pointed inner ends 46 of the respective shuttle members 46. In Fig. l of the drawings, the wire is shown as embracing a substantial portion of one end of a bale preparatory to tying the other end thereof. Each of these pulleys 114 and 115 have their wire grooves located in the same plane with each of the wire grooves 47 of the respective upper and lower shuttle members 42 of the shuttle 41. From the above description it will be obvious that by having the pulleys 115 carried by the bell-cranks 50 which actuate and move with the shuttle 41, sufiicient supply of wire is made available in the the inward stroke of the shuttle to therefore relieve the strain on the unreeling wires by rapid movement of the shuttle. Located on the other side of the baling press are two similar upper and lower wire reels indicated by the reference character 125. These reels are located in vertical axial alignment with one another and the upper one supplies the wire for a portion of the upper band while the lower one supplies the wire for a portion of the lower band on each bale. These reels are journaled on pins 126 carried by a bracket 127 secured to the side frame members 26 and 29. The tension or resistance of the unwinding wire from these reels may be regulated by adjustable tension or friction members generally indicated by the reference characters 12S. The wire from each of these reels are indicated by a dash and dot line andby the reference character 129. These wires 129 are trained about the pulleys 130, which in turn, are journaled on pins 131 carried by the brackets 132 secured to the upper and lower main frame or angie members. The grooves in these upper and lower pulleys are located in substantially the same planes with -the respective upper and lower reels 125 and are adapted to convey the wires in planes parallel to the wires being carried across by the respective upper and lower shuttle members 42 ot' the shuttle 41. The wires 129 normally extend through the aperture 129 in the front section 134 of the-housing 133 and are adapted to be moved into and out of the horizontally positioned slot 130 in the rear section 134 of the housing 133. See Figs. l, l1 and 12 of the drawings.

The mechanism which successively twists two strands of wire which are brought together from the opposite sides of the baler, severs the double twisted portions into two sections and -subsequently kinks or bends each ot' the twisted sections and secures the wires together so that when the twisted or kinked sections are placed under tension by the banded bale, the cranked or kinked end of the twisted wire will revolve against one of the straight portions in the manner of the steps disclosed in Figs. ll to 15 inclusive of the drawings. The engagement of the crank-like twisted end with the straight portion of the band locks the knotted or twisted end and prevents them from becoming unwound. -In this connection it will be observed that-the automatic wire twisting' or tying mechar 9 ilism for the upper and lower bands are identical'construction and the function, and the operation of the parts are synchronized with and controlled by the actuation of the shuttle mechanism previously described. The two separate wire twisting, wire severing and wire bending mechanisms are mounted in a casing or housing generally indicated by the reference character 133. The housing 133 consists of two sections 134 and 135 which are bolted together and in turn are secured to the main frame members on the side of the baler frame directly opposite the shuttle member 41. Supported in the central portion of the housing 133 is a continuously driven stub shaft 136 which is operatively and continuously driven by suitable transmission gearing mechanism from the gearing and transmission mechanism which operatively drives the reciprocating plunger 35 in any well known manner.

, The drive shaft 136 is pinned or secured to a sleeve 137 of a continuously driven clutchmember 138 journaled in one of the housing sections 134. Located within the housing and journaled in the sleeve 137 of the continuously driven clutch member 138 is a spindle 139 of an intermittently driven clutch member V140. The intermittently driven clutch member 140 is provided with a second spindle 140 whichy is in alignment with the spindle 139 and is journaled in a bearing barrel 141 formed in the housing casing 135. y(See Fig. 17A of the drawings.) Formed integrally with the intermittently driven clutch member 138 is a gear 142 which meshes with and operatively drives two similar gears for driving each of the wirev twisting, severing and' kinking mechanisms in the manner hereinafter described. Formed integrally with the intermittently driven clutch member 140 is a disc-like portion as shown at 143 which is adapted `to engage a roller arm for limiting its inward movement with respect to the clutch member in the manner hereinafterdescribed. Pivotally mounted on a pin 144 carried by the intermittently driven clutch member 140 is a roller clutch pawl 145. Journaled on the free end of the pawl 145 is a roller 146.` The roller 146 is located in the path of and is adapted to engage internal corrugations ofthe continuously driven clutch member 138. The roller pawl 145 is `norrrrally urged outwardly by a hairpin-type spring 147 which has its intermediate portion embracing the pin 144 and one of its free ends engaging the pawl 145 in one instance and the other end thereof engaging the ,hub of the spindle 139`of the intermittently driven clutch member 140. The gear 142 of the clutch member 140 meshes with and operatively drives upper and lower gears 148. These separate gears 148 form part of the driving connection for operating each of the separate wire twisting, severing and bending mechanisms for the separate bands that are bound about each bale. The gears 148 have oppositely disposed spindles or stub shafts formed integrally therewith, as shown-,at 149, which are journaled in the 'oppositely disposed bearing portions 150 formed integrally with the housing sections 134 and 135. Secured to and projecting from the opposite faces of each of the gears 148` are pins 151`having opposite rollers 152 journaled thereon. These rollers lie in the path of and are adapted to engage and actuate the respective wire severing and wire bendingl or kinking mechanism in the manner hereinafter described. Meshing with and operatively driven by the respective upper and lower gears 148 are wire twisting pinions, generally indicated by the reference character V153.4 These wire twisting pinions have oppositely disposed disc-like hubs 154 which are journaled in aligned apertures formed in the opposite and spaced apart supporting plates or bars 155. (See Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings.) The pinions 153 have nine teeth while each of the gears 142 and 148 have fortyfive teeth so that upon one revolution of the intermittently driven clutch member, the wire twister pinions will make five revolutions to effect a twisting of the wires. These pinions are provided with radially projecting wire twisting grooves as shown at 156, which extend from the base of and between two adjacent teeth of each of the pinions and extend in a converging form to approximately the axial center of each of the pinions to form semi-circular portions as shown at 157 for receiving the two strands or wire conveyed thereto by the shuttle members 42 of the shuttle 41. (See Figs. 6, 9, l0 and ll of the drawings.) The semi-circular portion 157 is of reduced diameter and is slightly larger than one diameter of the wire so that it will hold the two wires in effecting the twisting operation. The portion of each of these pinions 153 adjacent the reduced slot 157 cooperates with the knife hereinafter described to shear the wires during the cycle of operation of this mechanism in the manner hereinafter described. In alignment with the radially extending slots in each of these pinions when these pinions are in their normally stopped position or the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, are horizontally disposed slots 158 formed in the opposite plates 155. The upper and lower surface of these slots diverge or are curved outwardly so as to guide the wires carried by these shuttle members into the slots in the respective pinions. Projecting outwardly from each of the plates adjacent each of the pinions 153 are pins 159 and 160. The two plates 155 are held in spaced relation with respect to one another by a spacer plate 161, all of which are secured together by rivets 162. Pivoted on each of the pins 159, so as to sever or shear the wires at the conclusion of the twisting operation, at a point adjacent the slot 157 in each of the pinions 153 is a knife 163. The knives 163 are held in their uppermost or inoperative position by springs 164 which have one of their ends, as shown at `165, connected to each of the knives and their other ends thereof connected to pins 166 projecting from both sides of the plate 155 and secured thereto. Spaced laterally from each of the wire twisting pinions 153 and secured to one of the sides of one of the plates 155 is an anvil 167 which has its upwardly extending hook-like portion 168 located adjacent the inner ends of the slot 158 of one of the plates 155 for supporting one end of the severed twisted wire sections preparatory to bending or kinking the same in the manner hereinafter described. Pivoted on each ofthe upper and lower pins 159 outside each of the upper and lower anvils 167 and also on each of the pins on the opposite sides of the plates 155 are wire bender arms 169 and 170 respectively. The bender arms 169 and 170 are normally held upwardly or in their inoperative position by springs 171 and 172 respectively. The upper ends of these springs are connected to `the transverse pins 166 and their lower ends to the respective bender arms. The operating knives 163 and wire bender arms 169 and 174i are actuated to perform their respective functions in that order by the rollers 152 carried by and on the opposite sides of the respective gears 148 as the wire twister pinions 153 approach' the conclusion of their ifth revolution by reason of the intermittent clutch member concluding a single revolution or cycle of operation. The knife members 163 are initially actuated by having the rollers 152 engaging the curved arm or earn portion 172 of the respective knives 163. Following this operation and in close proximity thereto, the rollers 152 on the opposite sides of the respective gears 158 engage the camming or curved surfaces 173 of the opposite and respective wire benders 169 and 170 as clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 13 of the drawings. In order to permit the rapid withdrawal of each of the bender arms 169 and 17d after they have accomplished their bending or kinking operations of the twisted wire sections, the cam portion 173 of each of the bending arms terminates in an abrupt arcuate recess 174, which permits the respective springs 171 and 172 to rapidly return these bender arms from the position shown in Fig. 10 to the position shown in Fig. 16 to thereby permit the easy and rapid withdrawal or freeing of the kinked twisted ends of the wires from the position shown in Fig. 13 to that shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings. Located in the path of and adapted to engage the lower surface of the reciprocable shuttle members 42 are oppositely disposed guide rollers 175 which are journaled on pins 176 secured to the opposite housing sections of the housing 133. The plates 155 which carry the two wire twister pinions 153 and their associated wire severing and wire bending mechanisms are mounted in a vertical recess 177 and bolted between the housing sections 134 and 135 of the housing 133 as clearly shown in Figs. 16 and 17 of the drawings. The side of the housing members 134 and 135 lying adjacent the side of the baling press frame are provided with two vertically spaced apart rectangular and horizontally disposed openings 178, the centers of cach of which lie in planes parallel with planes of each of the centers of the wire receiving grooves of each of the wire twisterpinions 153 when these pinions are in their home or normally stopped position as shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings. These openings 178 are arranged to receive therein, the foremost ends of each of the shuttle members 42 when both strands of wires from the opposite reels are being forced into the recesses or slots in the respective wire twister pinions preparatory to the twisting operations.

When the shuttle mechanism, together with the shuttle 41 is actuated or tripped by the accumulation of suffin cient hay to form a bale as measured by the metering wheel190, as previously described, the wires 116 from the reels 198 on the shuttle side of the baler are carried or conveyed transversely across the baling chamber and brought into contact with the respective wires 129 from the reels 125 on the other side of the baler and both sets of wires are then conveyed or forced into the slots 156 of each of the twister pinions 153. At that moment the clutch tripping nger 48 carried by the shuttle 41 trips the clutch to start the gearing mechanism and pinions 53 to twist the wires, sever the wires and kink the wires during one complete cycle of operation of the intermittently driven clutch member. This cycle of operation is completed before the shuttle 41 is withdrawn to its normal stop position or the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings. This clutch tripping mechanism includes a roller arm or lever 179 which is journaled on a pin or shoulder bolt 188 carried by one of the housing sections of the housing 133. Journaled on the lower end of the arm 179 is a roller 181 which is swingable into the path of and adapted to engage an arcuate or hook portion 182 of the clutch pawl 145 to disengage the roller 146 from the clutch corrugations of the continuously driven clutch member 138. The inward movement of the roller 181 and its arm 179 towards the axis of the clutch mechanism is limited or stopped by engagement with the periphery of the diskdike member 143 mounted on the gear 142 or intermittently driven clutch member 140. (See Fig. 16 of the drawings.) The arm 179 is normally urged into the path of the pawl 145 by a spring 183 which has one end connected to an apertured ear 184 of the lever 179 and the other end thereof connected to the transverse pin 166. Pivotally connected to the arm or lever 179 above its pivot 18) as shown at 185, is a trip member, generally indicated by the reference character 186. This trip member 186 is in the form of a bell-crank lever and has one arm as shown at 187 normally resting in a horizontal position and upon a rest or ledge 188 formed on one of the housing members 133 and when the arm 187 is displaced from its normal resting position, it is returned thereto by the gravity or weight of the horizontal arm to assume the position shown in Figs. 6 and 16 of the drawings. The outer end of this lrip member is inwardly curved or arcuated as shown at 189, complementary to an outwardly curved end 190 of the trip finger 48. The pivotal movement of this arm 187 is guided between two vertical ribs 191 formed integrally with the opposite housing sections 134 and 135. One of these ribs terminates in a stop as shown at 192 for limiting the upward movement of the outer or free end of this arm 187. The rear end of this trip member or bell-crank 186 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 193 which is located in the path of and adapted to be engaged by one of the rollers 152 carried by the upper gear 148 during the cycle of operation of this mechanism. Located on one side of the housing member 134 and on the side adjacent the baler, is an arcuate opening 194 which is in alignment with the clutch tripping linger 48 to permit its entrance into the housing for tripping the clutch mechanism in the following manner:

The clutch tripping mechanism just described operates as follows: With the trip member 186 and the roller arm 179 in the position shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings, the intermittently operated clutch member together with its gear 142 are in stopped or inoperative position. Upon the actuation or movement of the shuttle member 41 to the position shown in Fig-6, the forward end 190 of the clutch trip finger 48 engages the outer end of the trip member 136 to actuatey the same, this member in turn, actuates the roller arm 179 to disengage the roller 181 from the hook 182 of the pawl 145, thereby permitting the roller 146 of the pawl to engage one of the corrugations in the continuously driven clutch member 138 to operatively drive the wire twisting, severing and kinking 'mechanism in the manner hereinafter described. The upper gear 148 as well as the other gears are driven in the directions of the arrows indicated in Fig. 6 and 9 of the drawings. After a certain portion of the cycle of operation of this mechanism, one of the rollers 152 on the upper gear 148 will engage the arm 193 of the trip member 186 to actuate it from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 9, or to a position where its outer end 189 will be actuated upwardly out of engagement with the end of the trip finger 48. During this time and in fact, during the complete cycle or single revolution of the intermittently driven clutch member, the'shuttle 41 will remain in position to serve its function as an anvil as shown in Figs. 9 and 13 until the wire twister pinions 'and associated mechanism complete their Voperations of twisting, severing and kinking of the wires. ln other words, the wire twister pinions 153 will have completed their five revolutions before the shuttle 41 is withdrawn to its normal inoperative position, or the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings. After' one of the rollers 152 on the'upper gear 148 has passed the end of the arm 193, the outer end of the trip member 186 will fall by gravity so as to rest on the inner'end of the clutch trip finger 48 as shown in Fig. l() of the drawings. At the same time, the roller arm 179 will be actuated by the spring 183 to move the roller 181 into the path ofthe pawl 145 preparatory to disengaging the continuously driven clutch member 138 from the intermittently driven clutch member 140. When the trip finger 48 has been withdrawn from the housing 133, the arm 187 of the trip member 186 will fall by gravity to assumev its normal horizontal position as shown in Figs. 6 and 16 of the drawings, preparatory for the next tripping operation.` The'operative parts shown in Fig. l0 of the drawings show the relative position of these parts upon approaching or reaching the conclusion of their cycle of one operation so that upon the withdrawal of the trip finger 48, the trip member 186 assumes its horizontal position or the position shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings. v

Summarizing the advantages of my improved method of knotting o'r twisting two strands of wire into two twisted sections, subsequently severing the twisted sections apart and then kinking these sections for securely fastening the wires together, as well asY the device for performing this method, 1 shall first outline the successive steps by which this method is accomplished. By referring to Figs. 1l to l inclusive, the successive steps are shown in their proper sequence. In Fig. 11 the shuttle member 41 carries one strand of the wire 112 on one side of the baler into contact with the other strandof the wire 129 on the other side of the baler and both strands of wire are simultaneously forced by the shuttle 41 into the slots on the wire twister pinions 153 after which the pinions are revolved ve complete revolutions and the twisted wires assume the position and formation of two twisted sections on each side of each of the pinions with the outer ends of the twisted sections supported in the grooved or slotted pointed ends 46 of the shuttle 41. In this position vthe pointed ends of the shuttle members serve the function of anvils during the bending operation. The next successive stepl in the method is the severing operation by each of the knives 163 which operate their respective shearing edges adjacent one side of each of the slots in the respective twister pinions 153. The third step in my improved method is disclosed in Fig. 13 of the drawings in which the opposite bender arms 169 and 170 are actuated to place a kink or bend in each of the severed twisted sections of the wire. One of each of these sections is kinked or formed by each of the bender arms 169 by having the opposite endssupported by the slots of the respective wire twister pinions 153 on one side and the other ends of the twisted sections supported in the slots between the pointed ends 46 of the shuttle 41 on the other side. The next step in my improved method is shown in Fig. 14 where the kinked or hook-like section is released from the positionv after the kinking operation preparatory to assuming its position as part of the band embracing the bale. After the bale is discharged from the compression chamber of the baler the expansion of the hay in the bale will cause the wire band to be placed under tension and when tension is placed on the wires, the bent or kinked ends of will revolve in a crank-like fashion until they strike the straight portions of the wire bands so as to lock themselves thereagainst, in the manner disclosed in Fig. l15 of the drawings. When the knot or twisted ends of the wires stop against the straight portion of the bands in the manner shown in Fig. 1'5 of the drawings, they form locks and prevent further untwisting so that further strain on the wire bands will break the bands or wires in some other place rather than untwist the twisted ends.

The operation of my improved novel wire knotting or twisting mechanism is synchronized with a shuttle mechanism and the reciprocatory plunger in the mannerV hereinbefore described so as to perform their respective functions in proper order.

From the above description it will be seen that I have not only provided a novel and improved construction of a wire knotting or twisting mechanism for securely fastening the ends of wire bands together, but also a novel method of accomplishing this object. The invention is adaptable for use in connection with any kind of hay baler, but is especially advantageous for use with the stationary, portable or pick-up types of hay balers.

While in the above specication I have described certain steps of my improved method and construction of an automatic wire twisting or tying device for baling hay, it will,

the twisted sections gether, a reciprocable needle 14 of course, be understood that variations both in the method and construction may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

What I claim as my Letters Patent is:

1. In a baling machine for tying wires about a baled articles, a frame, a wire tying mechanism mounted on the frame, revolvable means for twisting a pair of wires together, means for placing the wire in the twisting means having spaced projections for holding the wire while positioned in the twisting means, a reciprocable cutter mounted adjacent the twisting means and cooperating with the twisting means to cut the wire after being twisted, a pair of reciprocal bending means on each side of the twisting means and cutter for kinking the wires, means for supporting one end of the severed twisted portions during the kinking operation, and means to move the various operating means in proper timed relation.

2. In a baling machine for tying wires about a baled article, a frame, a wire tying mechanism mounted on the frame, revolvable means for twisting a pair of wires tofor placing the wire in the twisting means having spaced projections for holding the wire while positioned in the twisting means, a reciprocable cutter mounted adjacent the twisting means and cooperating with the twisting means to cut the wire after being twisted, a pair of reciprocal bending arms mounted adjacent and on each side of the twisting means and cutter for kinking the wires, means including an anvil for supporting one end of the severed twisted portions during the kinking operation, and means to move the various operating means in proper timed relation. j

3. In a baling machinefor tying wires about a baled article, a frame, a wire tying mechanism mounted on the frame, revolvable means for twisting a pair of wires together, a horizontally movable needle for placing the wire in the twister means having spaced projections for holding the wire while positioned in the wire twisting means, a reciprocable cutter mounted adjacent the twisting means and cooperating with the twisting means to cut the wire after being twisted, a pair of operable bending arms mounted on said frame adjacent and on each side of the twister and cutter for kinking the wires, means including said projections for supporting one end of the severed twisted portions during the kinking operation, and means to move the various operating means in proper timed relation.

invention and desire to secure by References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 661,015 Kennedy Oct. 30, 1900 889,815 Schmid .Tune 2, 1908 994,661 Schubert June 6, 1911 1,990,526 Claar Feb. l2, 1935 2,512,754v Tuft June 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 595,469 Great Britain Dec. 11, 1947 mounted adjacent and 

